Transportation officials cited an increase in partnerships between local businesses and the two authorities as a main reason more people are using the public transit systems.

Written by

Brian Wilson
| brwilson@tennessean.com

The Metro and Regional Transportation Authorities have trumpeted an increase in bus and train riders during the past eight months, even as a recent national transportation association said ridership was down in Middle Tennessee last year.

Since June, MTA and RTA said, they had 2 percent and 7 percent increases in ridership compared with the year before, according to information they released this week. Transportation officials cited an increase in partnerships between local businesses and the two authorities as a main reason more people are using the transit systems.